Public transportation road supervisors usually work under transit directors and act as intermediaries between the driving staff and administrative personnel. They complete performance evaluations on vehicles and drivers, resolve transportation complaints or issues, coordinate training procedures and often make recommendations on hiring and firing. While each county may require different prerequisites and ask them to perform additional duties, all road supervisors serve the same primary function.

Skills and Abilities

Road supervisors are skilled in time management, critical thinking, communicating and listening. They should be comfortable with reports and paperwork, reading maps and navigating, working with others or independently and maintaining records. They should be organized and work well under pressure. Supervisors need excellent vision and the ability to operate motor vehicles. Road supervisors should excel in establishing and maintaining positive relationships with drivers, customers and public officials.

Knowledge and Certification

Supervisors are knowledgeable in public transportation system operations, federal and state laws and regulations, employee and fleet management, training and development, scheduling and vehicle maintenance. A high school diploma or equivalent is usually the only educational requirement, but supervisors must possess a valid driver’s license and often need experience operating transportation services. Some counties, such as Marion County in Florida, require supervisors to hold certifications in traffic maintenance, hazardous materials or erosion and sediment control.

Primary Responsibilities

Road supervisors assist the transit director in assigning and monitoring buses and drivers on a daily basis. They maintain manifests, assist passengers who need special assistance and schedule extra trip assignments when necessary. Supervisors observe their driving staff and routinely conduct performance evaluations of their drivers. Road supervisors frequently inspect vehicles for safety and compliance, and may take them in for repairs.

Secondary Tasks

Supervisors oversee route changes or additions due to inclement weather conditions, road closings or similar occurrences. They periodically update reports on vehicles, mileage, usage and transportation matters. They may assist the director in investigating and resolving complaints from customers. Road supervisors typically conduct training sessions and report driver skills and knowledge to management. In some counties, supervisors qualify or deny county bus drivers for duty and are responsible for cleaning the inside and outside of vehicles.

About the Author

Based in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Megan Torrance left her position as the general manager for five Subway restaurants to focus on her passion for writing. Torrance specializes in creating content for career-oriented, motivated individuals and small business owners. Her work has been published on such sites as Chron, GlobalPost and eHow.